The Dynamo didn't receive any of the help they needed to move up the Eastern Conference standings today, so they'll begin the playoffs on the road Wednesday night against the Chicago Fire regardless of what they do tonight against the Colorado Rapids.

Because D.C. United tied the Fire 1-1 hours after the New York Red Bulls beat the Philadelphia Union, the Dynamo enter the final game of the season Saturday night with nothing to gain in the Eastern Conference standings.

The Dynamo will finish fifth, so they'll play fourth-place Chicago on Wednesday night for the chance to face top seed Sporting Kansas City in the Eastern Conference semifinals. If the Fire and/or Red Bulls had stumbled, the Dynamo would have had extra incentive in the season finale against the Rapids with a chance to finish either fourth or third.

Fourth place would have given the Dynamo a home game. Third place would have secured the Dynamo an automatic place in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Now Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear, who took 22 players to Colorado instead of the usual 18-man travel roster, has the opportunity to rest some regulars tonight against the Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

The Dynamo are 0-1-2 against the Fire. After tying their first two matches, Chicago won the third 3-1 Sept. 2 at Toyota Park.

The Dynamo tied the Fire 1-1 at Toyota Park on April 15. The sides were scoreless in the rematch at BBVA Compass Stadium on July 3.